GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — West Michigan’s newest tech startup incubator, The Bridge, will open in just over a month.
The entrepreneurial center is located on the fourth floor of the Doug Meijer Medical Innovation Building. The high-tech, high-growth space is the result of a partnership between Spartan Innovations, Health Innovation Partners, Rockford Construction, Walsh Investors, Walsh Construction and Murphy Development Group.
“The goal here is to find things that move the needle to make people’s lives better, happier, healthier,” said Kyle McGregor, director of health innovations at Spartan Innovations.
The nearly 20,000-square-foot space is designed to promote networking and growth for up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Terra Osman, who founded the market app Farmishis one of the first tenants and recipients of the many resources that The Bridge offers.
“Users can create a free listing for things like backyard chicken eggs, produce, garden supplies, plants, trees and honey,” Osman explained her app. “Buyers can search on a map by location or keyword and then send a message to the seller to complete the sale.”
Since launching the app from her children’s playroom in March, Farmish has seen 220,000 unique downloads according to Osman.
“These are the people and resources that have helped Farmish grow. I was waiting for this (space) to be completed because it will really have an impact for my business under the same roof and to be able to work together with them,” she said.
Rental applications are open. McGregor told News 8 they have about a dozen tenants pending a March opening.
“We can make this a one-stop shop where you don’t just come to get your business plan together,” he said. “It’s get your business plan, get your marketing, work on your platform, talk to the lawyers, talk to the HR people… we got it here.”
